TIMERGARA: Dir Scouts commandant Colonel Nasar Umar Hayat Lalaika on Saturday inaugurated two micro hydropower stations in Lajbok Darra, a remote hilly area in Lower Dir.

These stations were jointly set up by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme and Pakistan Army at a cost of Rs11 million.

The inauguration ceremony was held in Lajbok Darra, where local elders, social and political activists, and government officials showed up in large numbers.

Noted among those in attendance were SRSP district programme manager Abidur Rehman, Lt-Col Zeeshan Fayaz and Maidan assistant commissioner Hikmatullah Wazir.

SRSP, army build facilities at cost of Rs11 million

Abidur Rehman told participants that the project had been completed at a cost of Rs11 million and would generate 80 kilowatts electricity.

He said the stations would provide cheap and uninterrupted electricity to 200 houses in four Lajbok Darra villages.

SRSP manager said consumers would have to pay from Rs200 to Rs400 for the electricity.

Colonel Lalaika said consumers would get cheap electricity, which would ease the problems of power outages and low voltage.

X-RAY PLANT: The Medical Emergency and Relief International (Merlin) team leader in Lower Dir Dr Irshad Rughani on Saturday said the X-ray plant at Munda hospital had become functional.

Dr Irshad told reporters that the X-ray plant of Munda hospital had been non-functional for eight years.

He said Merlin took notice of the matter and made the plant functional in the best interest of local people.

The Merlin representative said 50 male and seven female doctors along with 22 medical specialists were provided to government hospitals in the district, which improved local healthcare conditions within six months.

He said the Merlin believed in quick service delivery and a positive change in healthcare units.

Dr Irshad said the organisation was committed to providing health facilities to the people of the area on their doorstep.

RESIDENTS’ DEMAND: People of Mora Shah and Denjarai villages in Samarbagh area of Lower Dir on Saturday demanded that the authorities drop the idea of building Ejarra-Jan Bhatai Barawal Road.

Shah Aminul Haq, Rehmat Gul, Shah Zarin, Gul Zada, Shamsur Rehman and Naseeb Mohammad told reporters at the Timergara Press Club that the government had approved the construction of a road between Ejarra and Jan Bhatai and work on it would begin soon.

They said the project ignored Mora Shah and Denjarai villages to the misery of local population.

The people said their repeated requests to the relevant officials to address the complaint had fallen on deaf ears.

They said if Mora Shah and Denjarai were not included in the project, they would not allow construction of the road on their lands.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play